Joint press release

The 10th meeting of the Stabilization and Association Council (SAA) between Albania and the European Union was held on 14 November 2018 in Brussels. The Council noted positively the European Commission’s 2018 report, which recommended the opening of the Stabilization and Association membership negotiations with Albania, in the light of the progress achieved, maintaining and accelerating the current pace of reforms.

The EU recalled the Conclusions of the European Council in June 2018, in which the Council agreed to respond positively to the above progress and set the path towards opening membership negotiations in June 2019. Consequently, the EU reiterated the critical need for Albania to maintain and accelerate the current pace of reforms, to further consolidate the progress made in judicial reform, in particular through the vetting process, and to mark other tangible results in the fight against corruption at all levels and in the fight against organized crime, particularly against drug cultivation and trafficking, enriching the positive results achieved in the fight against cannabis cultivation during this period. The EU welcomed the recent major operations in the fight against organized crime carried out by the Albanian State Police and stressed that it is essential to strengthen efforts to confiscate criminal assets and to ensure proper court proceedings for the successful operations of law enforcement.

Albania’s delegation reiterated its strong commitment to continue to deliver concrete results on the reform agenda and in particular on issues related to the extension of the rule of law. He stressed that the results achieved by Albania in the field of the rule of law constitute a solid foundation for further advancement of EU integration as they create the ground for further work to be carried out in the framework of negotiations on Chapters 23 and 24. The Stabilization Association Council noted that the reinforced approach to these negotiating chapters will further enhance activity and progress in the judicial system, fundamental rights, justice, freedom and security.

The ASC noted that, following the recent Conclusions of the European Council, the Commission has started technical preparatory work with the Albanian party. The EU reiterated that constructive cross-party dialogue and cooperation in the Albanian Parliament are essential for further progress in reforms and overall sustainability of engagement in the EU integration process. In this context, the EU underlined the importance of continuously pursuing comprehensive political dialogue while advancing technical work in all relevant parliamentary committees, including the Ad Hoc Committee on electoral reform. The EU underlined the need for all parties to find the necessary consensus to change the law on the status of judges, which will enable recruitment of a greater number of new candidates for judges.

The ASC praised Albania’s role in the region as a pro-active and constructive partner and the continuation of its full alignment with EU positions and statements under the Common Foreign and Security Policy. The Stabilization and Association Council also welcomed Albania’s continued participation in regional initiatives and structures in Southeast Europe as well as good neighbourly relations and constructive regional stance. The EU reiterated that good neighbourly relations and regional stability are essential elements of the Stabilization and Association process.

The meeting was chaired by the Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs of Albania, Ditmir Bushati. The EU delegation was led by the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy/Vice-President of the Commission, Ms. Federica Mogherini. The Commissioner for Neighbourhood Policy and Enlargement Negotiations, Mr. Johannes Hahn represented the European Commission.